Ruth Gbagbi will bring her experience to a different kind of Olympic assignment at Dakar 2026. The Ivorian Taekwondo star is among the athletes selected by the International Olympic Committee to mentor young competitors through its Athlete Role Model program.

Named in the initial group announced in April, Gbagbi will join experienced Olympians from across the sports program to offer guidance and take part in educational activities during the Youth Olympic Games.

For Taekwondo, her involvement connects an accomplished African competitor with the next generation at a historic moment: Senegal will host the first Olympic sporting event on African soil from October 31 through November 13.

Olympic Experience to Share

Gbagbi earned bronze in the women’s −67 kg division at Rio 2016 and repeated that achievement at Tokyo 2020. Her Rio medal made her the first woman from Côte d’Ivoire to reach an Olympic podium. She also won the world title in 2017.

Those achievements give her firsthand experience of preparing for major championships and sustaining performance across Olympic cycles—experience relevant to young athletes beginning their own international careers.

Her role in Dakar also comes while she remains competitive at the highest level. Earlier this month, Gbagbi won silver at the Paris-Levallois 2026 World Taekwondo Grand Prix, reaching the women’s −67 kg final against Hungary’s Olympic champion Viviana Márton.

As MASTKD reported from Paris-Levallois, Gbagbi won the opening round before Márton recovered to take the title in three rounds. The Ivorian had defeated Greece’s Styliani Marentaki in the semifinals.

Brazil, Korea and Hungary take gold on Day 2 at Paris-Levallois 2026

That recent podium adds a timely dimension to her mentoring assignment: young competitors will meet an athlete who continues to navigate the demands of elite competition.

What Does an Athlete Role Model Do?

The IOC’s program gives Youth Olympic participants opportunities to learn directly from experienced Olympians.

In Senegal, Athlete Role Models will support competitors, share their experiences and participate in educational workshops. Topics include mental preparation, injury prevention and career management. The program also includes involvement in training sessions, community activities and support for athletes around competition.

Established at the inaugural Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, the initiative makes interaction with experienced athletes part of the wider Games experience. Gbagbi will represent Taekwondo within that educational framework.

An African Champion at a Historic African Games

Gbagbi’s participation offers a meaningful connection between African sporting achievement and the young athletes gathering in Senegal.

Her Olympic record provides a concrete example of an African woman reaching successive podiums in international Taekwondo. At Dakar, that experience will become accessible through personal interaction and the program’s educational activities.

The broader question of what these Games can leave behind has also featured in MASTKD’s coverage of African Taekwondo.

In his exclusive interview with MASTKD at Paris-Levallois, African Taekwondo Union Secretary General Balla Dieye described Dakar 2026 as an opportunity for the continent. Education, organizational experience and the sharing of knowledge formed part of the legacy he hopes the Games will deliver.

Balla Dieye: From the Mat to Leadership, Keeping Athletes at the Heart of His Work

Gbagbi’s mentoring role brings that educational ambition into focus. Alongside the competition, Dakar will give young athletes an opportunity to ask questions, exchange experiences and learn from someone who has already competed on the Olympic stage.

For Taekwondo’s next generation, meeting a two-time Olympic medalist could become a valuable part of their first Youth Olympic experience.

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